VILNIUS TECH MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award Call

The MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award is an EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting advanced digital skills among master's students at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), specifically in the master's programs of Engineering of Artificial Intelligence and Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions. The total funding available is €21,000, distributed through scholarships and mobility grants.

Eligible applicants are individuals, specifically students who are EU citizens enrolled in the aforementioned master's programs and who have no academic debts at the time of application. The funding type comprises non-repayable grants for excellence scholarships and mobility expenses, with individual awards depending on the merit and needs of mobility.

The application process is individualized, focusing on single applicants rather than requiring any consortium or partnerships. The geographic eligibility also confines the program to EU citizens, and applications can be submitted monthly, indicating a rolling application process.

This funding targets the sectors of artificial intelligence and education, focusing on enhancing digital skills and encouraging innovation. The grants will support students during their studies, covering activities like research, participation in international events, and other academic excellence endeavors. The program also encourages trips to conferences and hackathons, with mobility grants capping at €1,500.

The award amounts vary based on the achievement type, with excellence scholarships recognizing contributions such as publications, research presentations, and participation in competitions, with the potential award amounts ranging from €100 to €1,000.

Co-funding is not generally required unless mobility grants exceed the specified limits, in which case applicants must provide details about alternative funding sources. The application procedure consists of a single stage, involving submission to the study program committee, which evaluates and communicates decisions within a timely manner.

The opportunity emphasizes innovation and mobility, aiming to enhance the advanced digital skills of students who can contribute to technological development within the EU context. The deadline for application submissions is June 30, 2026, with a stipulation that each student may not receive more than €3,000 in total funding per semester. This initiative signifies an investment in the future of digital competencies within Europe, aligning with broader EU goals for education and technological advancement.

The MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award is available at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH). The scholarships are granted by the MERIT project, which is co-funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101083531. A total of 21000 euros is available for distribution as excellence scholarships and mobility grants at VILNIUS TECH.

The aim of the scholarships is to promote the practical application, publicity, and research of advanced digital skills among European citizens, fostering innovation, activity, and mobility.

Eligible applicants are citizens of the European Union (EU) studying in the MERIT project master's degree programs of Engineering of Artificial Intelligence (state code 6211BX023) or Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions (state code 6211BX024) at VILNIUS TECH.

The procedures for awarding scholarships are as follows: Information is published on the VILNIUS TECH website and other systems regarding the availability of one-time scholarships for students' results and activities, as well as funding for student mobility. During the study period, students can apply to the study program committee for funding dedicated to mobility opportunities and promotion for achieved results. Applications are accepted by the VILNIUS TECH Department of Information Technologies. The Programme Study Programme Committee considers applications in the first week of each month based on evaluation criteria. Students are informed of the results within 5 working days after the decision. Successful applicants must sign a scholarship award agreement (including consent for personal data processing for scholarship management and marketing) and provide bank details and other required documents within 10 working days.

Students have the right to appeal assessment results within 3 working days, submitting the appeal in writing with specific details of the perceived errors. The study program committee must evaluate the appeal within 5 working days and inform the applicant of the results. If inaccuracies are confirmed, they must be corrected, and the scholarship award will be resumed. If a scholarship is refused, the terms are disagreed with, or necessary data is not provided in a timely manner, the application is recorded as obsolete, and the scholarship is no longer awarded.

Requirements for applicants include being an EU citizen (with a copy of identity document), studying in one of the specified master's degree programs at VILNIUS TECH (included in the lists of full study students), and having no academic debts at the time of application and receipt of the scholarship. Student activity during studies is also considered, with active students having an advantage in the ranking of applications.

Mobility grants are available to cover student trips aimed at acquiring and demonstrating additional competencies, promoting study results, and promoting the PROGRAM. Applications for mobility scholarships must include the purpose of the mobility, planned results, a link to the event or document with event details (date, duration, type, organizers, country, address, contact details), and a detailed breakdown of planned or incurred mobility costs and the requested reimbursement proportion.

Mobility scholarship applications are evaluated based on the following criteria: Funding must not overlap with other programs like ERASMUS+. For studies or traineeships in other institutions, applications are considered only if the student has already applied for ERASMUS+ but was not granted funding or the budget is insufficient. Mobility must contribute to the development of advanced digital skills in the EU and/or the visibility of the MERIT project. The requested mobility grant must correspond to typical costs for the type and duration of travel and be economically justified. The student's mobility should positively impact other students, the PROGRAM, and the MERIT project community.

Encouraged types of trips include participation in scientific international conferences presenting study results and participation in international events (hackathons, competitions) representing the PROGRAM and the MERIT project. Priority is given to students who have not received mobility grants before or received lower amounts.

The maximum mobility grant from the MERIT project is 1500 EUR. For higher costs, co-funding from other sources is investigated. The applicant must provide a written explanation of funding sources and amounts for each mobility cost component, ensuring no double funding and sufficient funding to implement the mobility plan. The request is granted only if mobility is ensured and there is no double funding.

Successful students must sign a contract agreeing that the funding can be used within 9 months from the date of satisfaction of the application, but no later than the end of the STUDENT's studies or September 1, 2026 (whichever is sooner). The costs of mobility shall be paid by the students and he or she will provide the invoices received and the documents proving their payment to the study programme committee, which shall reimburse the costs actually incurred within 30 calendar days by transferring to it an appropriate amount of money. If a student's mobility application is granted but the student takes a year of study, academic leave, or other breaks, the satisfaction of the mobility grant application is also invalid.

Excellence scholarships are awarded for outstanding student achievements. Applications must include information on exceptional results achieved, when they were achieved, and how they relate to the PROGRAMME and the MERIT project, along with supporting documents.

Applications for excellence scholarships are considered based on whether the student's achievements are directly related to the vision for developing advanced digital skills in the EU, the objectives of the PROGRAMME, and/or the MERIT project, and whether the achievements contributed to the visibility of the PROGRAM and the MERIT project. The study program committee estimates the criteria values, mentioned in paragraph 7.3 for each application, providing justification of the decision. Only applications, which meet both of the criteria are considered further.

Excellence scholarships can be awarded to the maximum extent possible, depending on their type, participation and influence:

Up to 1000 euros for publication of a scientific article in Web of Science referenced scientific journals with IF (not counting MDPI journals), referring to VILNIUS TECH as an affiliation. The number of co-authors and first author is taken into account – the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of authors, excluding the student and his or her supervisor; dividing by 2 if the applicant is not the first author.

Up to 500 euros for publication of a scientific article in Web of Science referenced scientific journals without IF or in MDPI journals with IF, referring to VILNIUS TECH as an affiliation. The number of co-authors and first author is taken into account – the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of authors, excluding the student and his or her supervisor; dividing by 2 if the applicant is not the first author.

Up to 250 euros for publication of a scientific article in other scientific journals, conference materials, as an affiliation referring to VILNIUS TECH. The number of co-authors and first author is taken into account - the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of authors, excluding the student and his or her supervisor; divided by 2 if the applicant is not the first author.

Up to EUR 100 for preparation of a scientific oral presentation or poster at a scientific conference. The number of co-authors and the first author are taken into account– the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of authors, excluding the student and his or her supervisor; dividing by 2 if the applicant is not the first author.

Up to 500 euros for the winners of international competitions or hackathons representing VILNIUS TECH and/or MERIT project. The size of the team is taken into account – the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of additional team members.

Up to 100 euros for active (not only in the role of an observer) participation but not winning in competitions or hackathon events, representing VILNIUS TECH and/or MERIT project. The size and achievements of the team are taken into account – the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of additional team members, as well the amount can be reduced by some specified ration if the participation was fragmented or not contributing to the MERIT project visibility and aims.

Up to 1000 euros if a start-up was founded, on the basis of a master's thesis. The quantity of the founders of the start-up and potential of it are taken into account – the maximum scholarship amount is divided by n+1, where n is the number of additional team members, as well the amount can be reduced by some ratio, if the start-up funding is less than 10000 euros or the area is not directly related to advanced digital skills and MERIT project aims.

Up to EUR 1000 for other achievements in studies, science and publicity, taking into account the contribution to the development, coverage of advanced digital skills and innovations, the visibility and further development potential of the PROGRAMME and/or MERIT project.

Successful students must sign a contract agreeing to provide bank account details, allow publicity of their achievements, ensure the achievements resulted directly from the PROGRAM or MERIT project, and that the scholarship will be transferred within 30 calendar days after signing the agreement, but no later than before his or her graduation or September 1, 2026 (whichever is first).

Restrictions include that a student can submit multiple applications per semester, but scholarships cannot be awarded repeatedly for the same results. One student per semester cannot receive more than 3000 euros from mobility or excellence scholarships. Incentives or other scholarships from other sources are not included in this amount. Up to 21000 euros are planned for 42 scholarships, but the awarding committee can limit the number and amounts of scholarships each month based on the available budget and other circumstances.

The call for the scholarship is announced on the VILNIUS TECH website in both English and Lithuanian.

For questions related to the call and MERIT studies at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, contact Simona Ramanauskaitė (simona.ramanauskaite@vilniustech.lt).

The task description involves demonstrating exceptional results as a MERIT study program student, including research activities and their result publication, active participation in advanced digital skill application contents and hackathon type events, promoting the benefits of advanced digital skills, MERIT project and its study program values and possibilities, advanced digital skill upskilling, gaining new experiences, competences and sharing it with others, and utilizing advanced digital skills by applying it for business and public sector growth.

The opening date for submission is August 19, 2024. The deadline date is June 30, 2026, 18:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is one month. The project acronym is MERIT. The full name of the EU funded project is Master of Science in Smart, Secure and Interconnected Systems. The grant agreement number is 101083531. The topic is DIGITAL-2021-SKILLS-01-SPECIALISED - Specialised education programmes in key capacity areas.

In summary, this opportunity provides scholarships and mobility grants for EU citizens studying Engineering of Artificial Intelligence or Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University under the MERIT project. The funding aims to promote advanced digital skills and innovation. Students can apply for mobility grants to attend conferences and events, or excellence scholarships for outstanding achievements like publications and startup creation. The application process involves submitting required documents and meeting specific eligibility criteria, with awards based on the impact and relevance of the student's activities to the MERIT project and the development of digital skills in the EU.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is STUDENTS who are citizens of the European Union and studying in MERIT project master's degree programs of Engineering of Artificial Intelligence (state code 6211BX023) or Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions (state code 6211BX024) at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. They must be included in the lists of full study students of these study programs and must have no academic debts at the time of applying and receiving the scholarship.

Funding Type: The funding type is a scholarship, specifically excellence scholarships and mobility grants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for single applicants, specifically individual students.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to citizens of the European Union (EU).

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on advanced digital skills and Artificial Intelligence. The program targets students in Engineering of Artificial Intelligence and Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions.

Mentioned Countries: Lithuania, specifically Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), is the location of the study program. The opportunity is open to citizens of the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at students currently in their master's degree programs, focusing on development, demonstration, and potentially commercialization or scale-up through start-up creation based on master's thesis work.

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies. Mobility grants may not exceed EUR 1500. Excellence scholarships can be up to EUR 1000 for specific achievements like publications in Web of Science journals with IF, up to EUR 500 for publications in journals without IF or MDPI journals with IF, up to EUR 250 for publications in other journals or conference materials, up to EUR 100 for scientific presentations or posters, up to EUR 500 for winning international competitions or hackathons, up to EUR 100 for active participation in such events, and up to EUR 1000 for founding a start-up based on the master's thesis or for other achievements in studies, science, and publicity. A student cannot receive more than EUR 3000 per semester from these scholarships. The total funding available for the project is 21000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with applications accepted by the VILNIUS TECH Department of Information Technologies. The Programme Study Programme Committee considers applications in the first week of each month.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of scholarships and mobility grants.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, involving the submission of an application to the study program committee, followed by a review and decision. There is an appeal process if the student disagrees with the assessment results.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but it is stated that up to 21000 euros are planned for 42 scholarships. However, the scholarship awarding committee reserves the right to limit the number and amounts of scholarships provided each month, taking into account the available budget and other circumstances.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for mobility grants exceeding EUR 1500. The applicant needs to explain what funding sources and amounts will be used for each mobility cost component, ensuring no double funding occurs and that the received funding is sufficient to implement the mobility plan.

Summary:

The MERIT Project Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award is an EU-funded initiative designed to promote advanced digital skills among European citizens studying at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH). Specifically, it targets students enrolled in the master's degree programs of Engineering of Artificial Intelligence (state code 6211BX023) and Management of Artificial Intelligence Solutions (state code 6211BX024). The program offers two types of scholarships: excellence scholarships, which recognize outstanding student achievements, and mobility grants, which support student trips aimed at acquiring and demonstrating additional competencies.

To be eligible, applicants must be EU citizens, full-time students in the specified master's programs at VILNIUS TECH, and have no academic debts. The application process involves submitting an application to the study program committee, detailing the purpose of the mobility or the exceptional results achieved.

Mobility grants can cover student trips to scientific conferences, international events like hackathons, and other activities that promote advanced digital skills and the MERIT project. The maximum mobility grant is EUR 1500, and co-funding is required for costs exceeding this amount.

Excellence scholarships recognize achievements such as publications in scientific journals, presentations at conferences, participation in competitions, and the founding of start-ups based on master's theses. The scholarship amounts vary depending on the type and impact of the achievement, ranging from EUR 100 to EUR 1000.

The total funding available for these scholarships and grants is EUR 21000, which is planned for approximately 42 scholarships. However, the awarding committee can adjust the number and amounts of scholarships based on the available budget. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2026. This initiative aims to foster innovation, activity, and mobility among students who can contribute to the development and application of advanced digital skills within the European Union.